Article transport facility

1. An article transport facility comprising: an article carrier movable along a track; an article rack arranged along said track, said article rack having a fixed frame, and a movable frame supported to be movable relative to said fixed frame between an extended position projecting toward said track and a retracted position retracted away from said track; said article carrier being configured to stop in an article transfer location for said article rack and to deliver an article to and receive an article from said article rack when said movable frame is in said extended position; a movable guide for shiftably supporting and guiding said movable frame to allow said movable frame to be movable relative to the moveable guide in a shifting direction; and a fixed guide mounted on said fixed frame for supporting and guiding said movable guide to allow said movable guide to be movable relative to the fixed guide in said shifting direction, wherein said movable guide comprises an extended position side limiting portion and a retracted position side limiting portion, the extended position side limiting portion coming into contact with said movable frame located in the extended position for limiting movement of said moveable frame toward the extended position relative to said movable guide, the retracted position side limiting portion coming into contact with said movable frame located in the retracted position for limiting movement of said movable frame toward the retracted position relative to said movable guide.

2. An article transport facility as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a shift control device mounted on said article carrier for shifting said movable frame between said extended position and said retracted position when said article carrier is in said article transfer location.

3. An article transport facility as defined in claim 2 , further comprising: an operated element rockable about a pivot axis to switch between a proximate position close to said article carrier in said article transfer location and a remote position remote from said article carrier in said article transfer location; said shift control device has an operating element movable away from said article carrier to switch said operated element from said proximate position to said remote position, and movable back toward said article carrier to switch said operated element from said remote position to said proximate position; and a rocking link operatively connected to said operated element and rockable in said shifting direction of said movable frame about a rocking axis such that said movable frame is in said retracted position when said operated element is in said proximate position, and said movable frame is in said extended position when said operated element is in said remote position; said rocking link having an engaging portion in slidable engagement with an engaged portion formed in said article rack and extending in a direction perpendicular to said shifting direction.

4. An article transport facility as defined in claim 1 , wherein said article carrier is movable along said track disposed above said article racks, and includes an article holder vertically movable to deliver an article to and receive an article from said article rack.

5. An article transport facility as defined in claim 1 , wherein said movable guide is engaged with a slide member connected to said movable frame, one of said movable guide and said slide member having a recessed section, and the other of said movable guide and said slide member having a projecting section.

6. An article transport facility comprising: a transport vehicle movable along a rail suspended from a ceiling; a drum supported by said transport vehicle for winding up a flexible member; a motor for rotating said drum; a gripper suspended from said transport vehicle through said flexible member; an article rack arranged adjacent said rail, said article rack having a fixed frame, and a movable frame movable in a predetermined direction between a first position and a second position spaced from said first position, wherein said article rack is configured to receive an article from said gripper when said movable frame is in said second position; a movable guide for supporting said movable frame in such a way to allow said movable frame to move in said predetermined direction relative to said movable guide; and a fixed guide mounted on said fixed frame for supporting said movable guide in such a way to allow said movable guide to move in said predetermined direction relative to said fixed guide, wherein said movable guide comprises a second position side limiting portion and a first position side limiting portion, the second position side limiting portion coming into contact with said movable frame located in the second position for limiting movement of said moveable frame toward the second position relative to said movable guide, the first position side limiting portion coming into contact with said movable frame located in the first position for limiting movement of said movable frame toward the first position relative to said movable guide.

7. An article transport facility as defined in claim 6 , further comprising a control member provided to said transport vehicle for moving said movable frame from said first position to said second position.

8. An article transport facility as defined in claim 7 , further comprising: an operated element rockable about a pivot axis to switch between a proximate position close to said transport vehicle standing still in said article transfer location and a remote position remote from said transport vehicle in said article transfer location, wherein said control device is movable away from said transport vehicle to switch said operated element from said proximate position to said remote position, and movable toward said transport vehicle to switch said operated element from said remote position to said proximate position; a rocking link operatively connected to said operated element such that said movable frame is in said first position when said operated element is in said proximate position, and said movable frame is in said second position when said operated element is in said remote position, said rocking link being rockable about a rocking axis; and an engaging element attached to said rocking link and in slidable engagement with an engaged portion formed in said article rack and extending in a direction perpendicular to said shifting direction.

9. An article transport facility as defined in claim 6 , wherein said movable guide is engaged with a slide member connected to said movable frame, one of said movable guide and said slide member having a recessed section, and the other of said movable guide and said slide member having a mating projecting section.